PIGEON FORGE, TN — Country music legend Dolly Parton died Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer, according to a statement released by her publicist to ABC.
Parton’s death was announced earlier in the day, initially saying the singer “died peacefully” in Nashville. A later statement said Parton died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, surrounded by loved ones, after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.”
Parton, who was 80, was one of the most influential figures in country music history, with a career that spanned more than six decades as a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist.
Following news of her death, tributes poured in from across the country, including from Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park she helped create. The park said it would remain open in accordance with Parton’s wishes, noting that she believed “the show must go on.”
A private service for the immediate family is expected to be held in the coming days, according to the report.
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